Power Play: Scoring Chances, Book 3

A freak accident during the Stanley Cup Playoffs put an end to Max Ashford's hockey career. Despite everything, Max gets back into the game as an assistant coach of the Spartanburg Spitfires. But nothing prepares him for the shock when he learns the new head coach is Misha Samarin, the man who caused Max's accident. Misha has no idea what to do when he's confronted with Max's presence - or the fierce attraction that springs up between them.

Breakaway: Scoring Chances, Book 1

Drafted to play for the Jacksonville Sea Storm, an NHL affiliate, 20-year-old Lane Courtnall's future looks bright, apart from the awkwardness he feels as a gay man playing on a minor league hockey team. He's put his foot in his mouth a few times and alienated his teammates. Then, during a rivalry game, Lane throws off his gloves against Jared Shore, enforcer for the Savannah Renegades. It's a strange way to begin a relationship.

Aced

Ace Locke is Hollywood's hottest action hero. Women across the globe fling their panties in his direction, but Ace isn't interested in those - he's more of a boxer briefs kind of guy. Specifically, those of the nearly naked male model on a billboard he drives past every day. Though he recently made headlines for his public coming out, Ace is wary about pursuing a relationship, fearing what the court of public opinion will do to his career.

Let the Wrong Light In

Avery Hextall, a junior architect at a prestigious firm, is thrilled when his design is chosen for a new performing-arts center - even if it means working closely with his insufferably uptight project manager, Malin Lacroix. When a chance encounter in the boss's office proves that Lacroix is anything but cold, Avery is determined to learn more about the real man beneath the aloof veneer.

A Fortunate Blizzard

Artist Trevor Morrison has always appreciated the little things in life, treating each day as a gift. And with good reason; he's been on the transplant-recipient list for too long now. When he learns just how numbered his days truly are, he resolves not to take them for granted. But he won't be unrealistic, either - which means romantic commitments are off the table.

Test Drive: Crossroads Series, Book 3

A double shot of devastating news turns Justin Evanson's life upside down. When he learns his father has cancer, and he has siblings he never knew existed, he leaves everything behind and moves to Virginia to support his dad as he tries to make amends with his family - a family Justin's not sure he has a place in. Things go from bad to worse when he discovers his recent hookup is his newfound sister's brother-in-law. Drew Sinclair never expected to see Justin after their night at the club.

Drawn Together

Rory's just a simple southern boy from St. Antoine's Parish, Louisiana, but he knows what he wants - the girl of his dreams, reclusive and mysterious artist Ran Yamane. He's loved her since junior high school, and now he has the chance to meet her. He chucks everything and travels 1,500 miles to Anime Expo in Long Beach just so he can tell her. He's determined that nothing and nobody are going to stand in his way. Turns out, Ran Yamane isn't a girl, but he gets that a lot.

Professional Distance: Thorne and Dash, Book 1

Thornwell Shipton is wealthy, uptight, closeted, and an incurable workaholic. A tragic love affair left him terrified of relationships, so he tells himself sex is better scheduled and paid for. Riley Dashwood is young, easy-going, and comfortable in his own skin. He's a passionate baker and an aspiring chef, working as an escort to save up for culinary school. When Thorne hires Dash, it's lust at first sight. After a few scorching nights together, both men start to wonder if what's between them is more than physical.

First and First: Five Boroughs, Book 3

Caleb Stone was raised on the Upper East Side, where wealth and lineage reign and "alternative lifestyles" are hidden. It took him years to come out to his family, but he's still stuck in the stranglehold of their expectations. Caleb knows he has to build his confidence and shake things up, but he doesn't know how, until he meets Oliver Buckley.

Trailer Trash

It's 1986, and what should have been the greatest summer of Nate Bradford's life goes sour when his parents suddenly divorce. Now, instead of spending his senior year in his hometown of Austin, Texas, he's living with his father in Warren, Wyoming, population 2,833 (and Nate thinks that might be a generous estimate). There's no swimming pool, no tennis team, no mall - not even any MTV.

A Kind of Romance

Zeke Gulden is a ruthless Wall Street exec. His hard-edged, no-nonsense attitude has served him well in the cutthroat business world, but less so in his personal life. When he finds out his ex-boyfriend cheated on him with a coworker, Zeke can't let go until he finds a way to get even. However, his meddlesome father has other ideas. The new hire at the family-owned bagel store is somewhat colorful, but his dad is sure he's the perfect man for Zeke.

What Happens at Christmas

Justin is recently and unhappily single. Christmas is coming, and he doesn't want to face his ex alone at their office party. So Sean volunteers to go with him and pretend to be his new flame. Sean has always lusted after Justin from afar, but there's never been a good opportunity to ask him for more than friendship. Posing as Justin's boyfriend isn't a chore, and if Justin wants to rebound onto him, Sean's more than willing. At the party pretense and reality blur, and a kiss on the dance floor leads to a night of passion.

Sweet Young Thang: Theta Alpha Gamma, Book 3

Thanks to Collin Montes, Theta Alpha Gamma now welcomes gay and bisexual students. Persuading his Uncle Monty, president of the TAG Alumni Association, that the open approach won't adversely affect TAG's reputation is Collin's own first step toward coming out. As long as there are no repercussions, he'll escape the closet by graduation.

Half Moon Rising

After more than a decade, Troy Bishop is going home to the family he left behind when his parents died. Little does Troy know, he's about to get a lot more than he bargained for. Sawyer Quinton has been waiting for his mate for as long as he can remember and was beginning to think he'd never find him. Until Troy Bishop walked back onto the Reservation. The attraction is immediate for both men, but one is hiding a secret and the other must finally open is heart.

The Distance: The Firsts & Forever Series, Book 11

Twenty-four-year-old Jessie thinks he has fellow street racer Kai all figured out. The tall, dark-haired Hawaiian might be gorgeous, but he's also arrogant, angry, and a total menace when he gets behind the wheel. So why does an argument with Kai lead to the hottest sex of Jessie's life?

Pretend

Mason Alexander thought all he wanted in life was something to call his own - something without the family name attached. He got that when he bought his bar in Blackcreek...but then a hard truth opens his eyes that he's been lied to his whole life, and he's tangled amid the family that loves him, a truth that haunts him, and torn between the life he wants for himself and the obligation he feels for his family.

The Persistence of Memory: Mnevermind Trilogy, Book 1

While forgetting your problems won't solve them, it does seem like it would make life a heck of a lot easier. Daniel thought so once. Now he knows better. He and Big Dan have always been close, which makes it all the more difficult to break the daily news: the last five years were nothing like his father remembers.

Rebound Remedy

The last thing Cole expects to get for the holidays is dumped. But there he is, in the airport on his way to Banff for a romantic getaway, helplessly watching as his boyfriend's ex declares undying love, proposes - and is accepted. With a few weeks to go until Christmas, Cole's mood dives from jolly to jaded. But instead of sitting at home alone and feeling sorry for himself, he goes to his favorite bar, McGregor's, for a pint and some company.

Stay

Wes Jensen just lost the sister who raised him, and gained custody of his niece. The last thing he needs to add to his full plate is dealing with Braden Roth, the one-night-stand who continues to try to push his way into Wes' life. He has a kid to raise now, and Wes isn't great at getting close anyway. As their lives intertwine more and more, Wes discovers Braden isn't as shallow as he thought. But after everything Wes lost in his life, he isn't sure he can risk his heart, and truly want Braden to stay.

Off Campus: Bend or Break, Book 1

With his father's Ponzi scheme assets frozen, Tom Worthington believes finishing college is impossible unless he can pay his own way. After months of sleeping in his car and gypsy cabbing for cash, he's ready to do just that. But his new older-student housing comes with an unapologetically gay roommate. Tom doesn't ask why Reese Anders has been separated from the rest of the student population. He's just happy to be sleeping in a bed.

Wolfsong

Ox was 23 when murder came to town and tore a hole in his head and heart. The boy chased after the monster with revenge in his blood red eyes, leaving Ox behind to pick up the pieces. It's been three years since that fateful day and the boy is back. Except now he's a man, and Ox can no longer ignore the song that howls between them.

Collide

At 10 years old, Noah Jameson and Cooper Bradshaw collided midair when they dove for the same football. For three years they were inseparable...until one day when Noah and his parents disappeared in the middle of the night. Noah and Cooper never knew what happened to each other. Now, 17 years later, after finding his boyfriend in bed with another man, Noah returns to Blackcreek looking for a fresh start. And damned if he doesn't find his old friend grew up to be as sexy as sin.

Last Line

John Griffin and Michael South - agents in the renegade counterterrorism agency Last Line, and closer than brothers. It's a fast-lane life of danger and excitement. John loves every minute of it, but he's facing one big problem now: his feelings for Mike have flared up from friendship into a passion he can no longer hide. And Mike, although the bravest and best of partners, doesn't feel the same.

Commitment Ranch: Dreamspun Desires, Book 18

Ford Nixel has two law offices, two fancy condominiums, and all the right connections. In short, he has everything he wants. The last thing he needs is his Uncle Ty's stake in the Leaning N, a ranch that's been in the family for generations. Ford hasn't even been to the ranch in over a decade, not since he left his boyfriend Stoney behind and headed back to college alone.

Publisher's Summary

After last season's heartbreaking loss to his hockey team's archrival, Jacksonville Sea Storm goalie Riley Hunter is ready to let go of the past and focus on a winning season. His new roommate, Ethan Kennedy, is a loud New Yorker with a passion for social justice that matches his role as the team's enforcer. The quieter Riley is attracted to Ethan and has no idea what to do about it.

Ethan has no hesitations. As fearless as his position demands, he rushes into things without much thought for the consequences. Though they eventually warm to their passionate new bond, it doesn't come without complications. For their relationship to work, Ethan will need to learn when to keep the gloves on and let someone help him, and Riley will have to learn it's okay to let someone past his defenses.

I’ve made no bones that Riley Hunter is one of my favorite characters in the Scoring Chances series, and that he and Ethan Kennedy are one of my favorite couples, so I had high expectation of Scott R. Smith’s narration and I feel like every expectation was met.

Smith performs really well, with great character voices, good pacing, timing and delivery.

I expected him to really bring to life the humor, romance, and passion, and I feel like he delivered on all counts. I’ll definitely be slipping this audio into my auto re-listen rotation!

If you’re looking for a great romance with a fantastic friendship, low angst and hot sex, and great narration you should definitely pick this up!

Save of the Game was another excellent book in a series that is shaping up to be a favorite of mine. I think this author has helped convert me to a full-time hockey fan because hockey books are my new obsession!

I, again, listened to this as an audiobook, and I had the same reactions to the narrator, Scott R. Smith, as last time. There is something about his cadence that takes a little getting used to, but once I got used to his manner of speaking, I was HOOKED.

I love that Scott R. Smith does different voices for different characters and really puts his all into it. I'm from a NYC suburb, and though the accent for Ethan may seem a little over-the-top, it really isn't. I hear people talk similarly all the time. I loved how the narrator went for it. I also loved his mellow voice for Riley. Just a great narration, very well done.

I thought that this book was a very sweetly done bi-discovery story, with both Riley and Ethan experiencing their first time with another man (<--- you know I love this!!). It felt really real, not forced or fake, and I totally bought their attraction for one another.

In terms of sexuality, I think both men would consider themselves bisexual (they refer to themselves as such a few times), but I also was curious about Riley perhaps being demisexual (not confirmed, mind you). A few times in the book, Riley says that he isn't that attracted to people until he gets to know them well, and that is why he doesn't hook up much. I picked up on that, and I was excited to see some demisexuality represented.

The plot was lovely, a true friends-to-lovers story with surprisingly little angst. The book had a relaxed, light-hearted, earnest vibe that I really liked, and I smiled the entire time I was listening to it. These guys were smitten with each other and I was smitten with them.

I wouldn't call this book kinky, per se, but the sex was a little on the rougher side at times, and IT. WAS. HOT. I couldn't get enough of the sex scenes and the slow, natural way that Riley and Ethan got to know one another. Super hot, super well-done.

The hockey details, the family details, they all worked with the story. I liked both Riley and Ethan's personal journeys, and I though that Avon Gale did a great job of making the story cohesive.

I think my one complaint would be that parts of the story dragged on a tiny bit, but I really loved it overall. I absolutely can't wait to continue on in this awesome series! #seastormpride

Riley...I kind of loved him. He's intense and a bit different from the rest of the team. He's the goalie which comes with its own set of eccentricities...and Riley has a few more on top of the normal ones. He's superstitious, and reserved. He never shows much emotion...just does his job and does it well. But everything changes once Ethan and his family start to get under Riley's skin.

Riley's upbringing was such that he's never gotten attached to other people. But Ethan doesn't have boundaries. He just barges in and assumes everything will work out. I loved the way of them worked together. For Ethan, family is everything. Riley doesn't understand this. He's never had that kind of relationship with anyone...but suddenly he finds himself taken into Ethan's family like he's one of theirs too. It was so sweet to se this kid who needed that kind of love so desperately...both from Ethan and from his family. It made for a great read that I thoroughly enjoyed.

I'm truly loving this series and this book brought glimpses of Jared and Lane back, too, so that made it even better. I highly recommend all the books in this series. This was another fun one...lots of great hockey, sexy nights spent exploring new things, and an intriguing yet revolting amount of coconut water mixed in.

*Audio copy provided to Bayou Book Junkie by the Dreamspinner for my listening pleasure in hopes of an unbiased opinion, a review was not a requirement.*

Save of the Game is Book 2 in Avon Gale's Scoring Chances series. You could probably listen/read Book 2 without having read the first one, but don't do that! There are characters and storylines from Book 1 that are involved in Book 2 and you'll enjoy it more with the history of the characters. In this book, goalie Riley Hunter is in peak physical shape and ready to win a championship. Riley is an open minded individual, who has considered that he may be bisexual. Riley comes from a wealthy family which he keeps hidden from everyone but his closest friends. Ethan Kennedy is loud, boisterous, and the life of the party. He smokes cigarettes like Riley drinks coconut water. Ethan was raised in a close knit family with a single mom and two sisters. Family is one of the most important parts of his life. Riley is unexpectedly attracted to Ethan, confirming that he's bisexual. In a nosy move, Ethan finds Riley's hidden porn files on the laptop and realizes that the men in the videos look a lot like him, making him rethink his sexuality.

I seriously appreciated that when Riley and Ethan became interested in each other, they went all in. There were no chapters of angst about how can I be gay, can I do this, should I do this, etc. They both decided to accept themselves and to move forward. Their fumblings of trying to figure out what to do with each other was funny, leading a clearly desperate Riley to call Lane (from Book 1) for sex advice. The ridiculousness and hilarity of that call was a pure Lane moment. And was a reminder of just how much I loved Lane and Jared.

Some characters that I have to mention is Riley and Ethan's coach and Ethan's family. Coach doesn't care that they're gay, he just wants them to play some ******* hockey! Coach likes to sprinkle nouns and verbs in between his cussing and he is hilarious! There were many scenes with him involved that I was laughing while listening. He was just so well written and the narrator just brought him to life. Additionally, Ethan's mom and sisters. They were no different from Ethan, they're loud, brash, in your face and they have huge hearts. They just added so much to this story, and made it easy to understand why Ethan had turned out the way he did.

I really enjoyed the audiobook from Book 1, and this one definitely doesn't disappoint. This audiobook was narrated by Scott R. Smith, who really brought the characters to life! His storytelling was very well paced and he really brought out the humor and passion in this story. Though I did feel that his female characters all had the same voice/tone, so sometimes it was hard to tell which one was speaking without being told.

Overall, this is a low angst story with two lovable guys, that provides lots of laughter and some really hot, steamy, sexy scenes. Even if you're not a fan of hockey, or don't understand it, you should still check out this series!

We met Riley and Kennedy in book one – Riley is sort of ambiguous when it comes to his sexuality and Kennedy identifies as straight. They end up rooming together when Kennedy has trouble finding a place to land and Riley likes having a roommate.

They end up becoming really good friends but Riley isn’t sure there might not be some underlying other… to their relationship.

One night things get … interesting… and Kennedy isn’t willing to let it lie. He confronts Riley about what’s between them and this starts their mutual exploration into a relationship beyond friendship.

**

Avon Gale recently told us on FaceBook that she’s gonna devote even more time to writing – THANK YOU! I think she’s amazingly gifted. Humor is – hands down- the hardest thing to communicate in writing and she EXCELS at it.

What I loved was that these boys were up front and honest right from the start – no hand wringing and wondering. It felt so authentic. They talked like men/boys and acted like men/boys and as a result the story just felt so natural and plausible. Even though it’s essentially a double GFY which – in theory – is like the storybook unicorn.

There are a lot of feels in this book too – and super hot times – it pretty much has it all!

Of course we get to see more of Lane – who is my personal favorite character – maybe of all time (there are a couple others who rival with him but he’s up there) and we get to see all that sweaty hockey action, as well.

Another proof of a gifted writer (and storyteller) is that someone like me – a non sports person – READS the hockey stuff! And I understood it! Woot!

It can be hard to follow up a great book – sequels get a bad rap – but this absolutely does it’s job and keeps the awesomeness flowing! This is a great follow up to Breakaway – and since that was my all time favorite book of 2015 you know that means something!

I highly recommend this to fans of hockey, sweaty jocks, people with a sense of humor and anyone with more than two brain cells to rub together!

5 of 5 stars

AudioScott Smith is the narrator from book one and so if you've enjoyed book one, you have a fair idea of how his narration is for book two. I enjoyed the fact that he attempted some sort of "New York" accent for Ethan and his family, though I'm not sure exactly which part of New York he's supposed to be from. His Riley is fairly robotic, which I believe is intentional based on the character. These, by themselves, would be imperfections, but fine if it weren't for the rest of his narration. He tends to end every sentence on an upswing lilt like every sentence ends with an exclamation mark. He doesn't modulate his pacing for deep emotion and the humorous parts are done with the same inflection as the touching parts.While I was absolutely able to listen to this in it's entirety, it was definitely disappointing, especially since I love this series so very much.All in all, if you enjoyed the narrator in book one, you will again, and if you didn't care for him, you probably won't here either.3 of 5 starsOverall4 of 5 stars